Arctic Alaska Northern Lights & Winter Wildlife
Trip #1 October 4 - 12th, 2003
Trip #2 October 11 - 19th, 2003
($2,600 per person US.)
Fairbanks/Fairbanks

Guided by Hugh Rose and Patrick Endres

Hugh Rose

Hugh Rose has photographed and lived in northern climates most of his life including spending the last 10 years in Alaska. Compelled by Alaska's natural beauty, he left a 10-year career in geology to explore and photograph the vast landscapes and wildlife of the north. Both nature and a camera have intrigued Hugh since childhood and he continues to explore and interpret the world's natural beauty through his photographs. As part of his photography business Hugh sells Fine Alaskan Photographic prints at art galleries throughout Alaska and from his home in Fairbanks. As a photographer Hugh has spent a significant part of his career photographing in the arctic and feels that this environment offers some of the most incredible raw beauty in North America. His photographs have appeared in Sierra Club Calendars, NorthernLight Calendars, Denali Wilderness Calendars, National Trade Magazines, Frommer's Travel Guide, Alaska Airlines Magazine, Outdoor Life, BBC, National Wildlife Federation, and numerous other publications

Patrick Endres

After moving to Alaska in 1981 from Wisconsin, Patrick has traveled extensively throughout the state photographing and observing the delicate balance of nature in the arctic and sub-arctic environments. His genuine love and enthusiasm for the natural world combined with his 19 years of traveling Alaska's interior, arctic and coastal regions have given him a strong knowledge of the area's ecosystems and the varied aspects of photographing in Alaska's ever-changing wilderness surroundings. Patrick holds a bachelor of arts in Theology and resides in Fairbanks, Alaska where he works professionally as a freelance photographer, natural history & photography guide, and graphic artist. His photographs have appeared in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, USA Today, National Wildlife Magazine, National Parks Magazine, Alaska Magazine, Alaska Airlines Magazine, Alaska Geographic, Country, Sierra Club Calendars and numerous other calendars, notecards, postcards, books and other publications. Hugh Rose

Trip Emphasis

The focus of the Northern Lights trip will be to spend nights pursuing photos of the strange and beautiful aurora borealis and to spend days exploring and photographing the magnificent scenery and arctic wildlife of the Brooks Range. The trip will be based out of a comfortable Bed and Breakfast in the historic gold mining community of Wiseman, Alaska.

The trip will meet in Fairbanks, Alaska. Group members will arrange their own flights to and from Fairbanks. Dates will coincide with the end of a full moon, to maximize foreground light for aurora photography. October is typically one of the most active times for the aurora. The group will travel north of the Arctic Circle to photograph northern lights, winter scenery and wildlife in the spectacular wilderness of the Brooks Range. Mid-October is an excellent time of year to be in this area as days are still long and yet nights are warm enough to make northern lights photography enjoyable. Even though it is Mid-October, weather conditions can be wintry and temperatures could range significantly. Instruction on winter and northern lights photography will be provided throughout the trip. Prior to the trip all group members will be counseled on suitable camera equipment and personal gear for traveling and shooting in the arctic.

Total trip price includes all accommodations, meals, and transportation, but excludes flights to and from Alaska.

$2,600 US. Trip price is dependent on a minimum of 3 participants
Arctic Alaska Northern Lights 2003 Trip
9 days, 7 days of photography
October 4-12, 2003
October 11-19, 2003

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Fairbanks at any time of day and settle into a comfortable Fairbanks hotel. Orientation dinner and talk about the trip and photographing the aurora. (Saturday, October 4th or October 11th, 2003)

Day 2: Pack up and drive north to our destination the historic gold mining town of Wiseman, approximately 60 miles north of the Arctic circle in the heart of the spectacular Brooks Range. Photography along the way. On arrival in Wiseman, group members will settle into a comfortable, but rustic Bed and Breakfast. Aurora photography will begin this night.

Day 3: Spend the day on the south side of the Brooks Range exploring the northernmost edge of the boreal forest, looking for Lynx, fox, wolves, snowshoe hare, ptarmigan and moose. Weather permitting photography of northern lights this evening.

Days 4-7: These next 4 days will be spent exploring and photographing the incredible mountain wilderness of the central and northern Brooks Range. Weather permitting a foray over the famous Atigun Pass will be made to photograph the incredible scenery on the North Slope of the Brooks Range, where caribou, wolves and foxes are commonly seen. Nights will be spent observing and photographing the aurora borealis, while staying at the comfortable Bed and Breakfast in Wiseman.

Day 8: This will be the last day above the Arctic Circle. After breakfast the journey south to Fairbanks will begin. In the short time spent above the Arctic Circle one will see the day shorten an incredible 45 minutes! Deep winter is about to settle over the land for another 6 months! Upon arrival in Fairbanks participants will settle into a comfortable Fairbanks hotel and end the trip with a final farewell dinner together.

Day 9: Trip participants will board scheduled flights for the trip home. (Sunday, October 12th or 19th, 2003)

Reservations and Booking for the Northern Lights Photo Tour

To reserve space contact Hugh or Patrick. Fifty percent of the ticket price is due within 2 weeks after booking, which includes a $250 non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance due 30 days prior to the trip start date.

Cancellation / Refund Policy:

Cancellation acceptable up to 90 days prior to trip departure, minus a $250 deposit. No refunds will be given after that date. We suggest travel insurance as a safe way to protect oneself against unforseen circumstances.

Send payment to:

Hugh Rose
620 Yak Road
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709

Clothing and Camera Gear List
for Aurora and Arctic Wildlife trip

Group size is limited to 6 participants. This enables effective use of space appropriate for accessing and photographing in the Arctic region, which requires reliable four wheel drive vehicles. Due to the size of the state of Alaska, lengthy travel time in a vehicle is unavoidable. For this reason, two vehicles will be used, (a guide and 3 participants per vehicle) providing each participant a window seat (which rolls down) in order to optimize photographic opportunities along the way. The additional unused space provides adequate room for all necessary winter gear and camera equipment. It is important however, to be conscious of space and pack efficiently, since winter clothing is bulky.

Temperatures in the Arctic in October can be cold. This has obvious implications on the human body, but on camera gear as well. The Brooks mountain range separates the interior from the Arctic Coastal Plains, and the climate north of the Brooks (just 65 miles north of Wiseman) can be dramatically colder. It is always prudent to have plenty of warm clothes and necessary gear suited for these conditions. Typically when photographing, we remain near the vehicle in order to warm ourselves and our equipment if necessary. The following is a suggested list of gear which should help you in planning and packing. If you have any specific questions, please call Hugh or Patrick and we can further advise you on your inquiry.

CLOTHING

Duffle bags are preferred for packing over hard suitcases, and preferably two smaller bags over one large one.

Polypropylene (or the equivalent) for first layer clothing (A MUST)
Wool or fleece lined insulated wind pants
Down sweater
Fleece pullover or pile sweater
Insulated Parka (or overcoat that allows room for lofty layering)
Wool or Poly socks
Thin polypropylene glove liners
Warm gloves
Warm mittens
Fleece neck gaiter or scarf
Warm Boots
Chemical hand warmers
Pile or fleece hat
Sunglasses
Lip balm (helpful in windy, dry, arctic climates)
Gaiters

CAMERA GEAR

1. Tripod! A tripod is absolutely essential for northern lights photography. I encourage people to bring two tripods, because it is possible and advantageous to run two cameras simultaneously while photographing the aurora. I would recommend a small tripod as a second because lenses used for aurora photography are small and do not require bulky large tripods to stay steady

2. The fastest lenses that you own! I recommend at least two lenses that are 50mm or wider and F2.8 or faster for aurora photography. The faster the lens the better the aurora photos you will take. I like a 28 mm or wider and often use a 24mm and a 17mm.

3. At least two camera bodies. Newer cameras work fine in the cold as long as you can keep them supplied with a warm battery..

4. Standard longer lenses for wildlife and scenic photography. Bring the standard lenses that you use for wildlife shooting, but remember space and weight. So if you have a 300mm and a 600mm for wildlife bring only one. A 70 or 80-200 zoom works great for scenics and some wildlife also

5. Batteries! Bring lots of extra batteries. Cold weather saps energy from batteries at a rapid rate! A normal 2CR5 lithium battery that you may get 30 rolls out of during normal shooting may last only 3 rolls if the temperatures are cold. If you have an external battery pack or have always thought about getting one, this would be a great opportunity. I have also heard that the nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries are amazing in the cold.

6. Films. The film that I have great success with for Northern Lights is Fuji RDP III or 100F. This film pushes 2 stops very well and can be pushed 3 stops if necessary. If you use this film for aurora and for wildlife and scenics, it makes film logistics much easier to deal with. Kodak 100VS renders very acceptable colors but does not push well beyond one stop. However, some colleagues prefer it in certain situations because of its color saturation. Fuji also has a new 400 speed film that has very good grain and pushes quite well.

7. Cable releases are a must for you cameras. You will be doing long exposures with your camera set on bulb and you do not want to shake the camera.

8. Foam pads on your tripod legs. You will be handling your tripod a lot, both night and day, and foam is much warmer on the hands than a metal tripod leg.

9. Hand warmers. Either chemical or lighter fluid style. These are critical when you are handling metal cameras for long periods of time in cold weather. Talk with me for details.

10. Headlamp. This is an important piece of equipment for aurora photography. A headlamp allows two hands to be free while changing film or making camera adjustments. I can advise you on what type to purchase.

11. Large ziploc baggies. You will need these to put your camera in when you are going from cold outdoors into a warm vehicle to prevent fogging.

12. A can of compressed air for cleaning lenses and for blowing condensation off of fogged lens elements

Contact Patrick or Hugh if interested in participation

Patrick Endres 907-479-9196 Patrick@alaskaphotographics.com
Hugh Rose 907-479-8984 hrose@alaska.net